Cluster lamp-socket.



R.' B. BENJAMIN. CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET. ArPLIon'mn Hmm rmLs, 190s.

wm /l u.. me Mm fw dw t m M E B.. B.- BENJAMIN. CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET.

APPLIOATION FILED Hum, 190s.

950,650. Patented Mar.1,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1E STA'IES OFFICE.

RE'UIBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

CLUSTER LAMP-SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

Application led February 8, 1908. Serial No. 414,990.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, RnUnEN B. BENJA- MIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cluster Lamp- Sockets, of which the following is a full, clear, concise and exact descriptlon, reference being ha to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My inventlon relates to electric lampholding structures, more particularly cluster lamp sockets,.and contemplates improvements whereby a device of this character may be economically constructed and couveniently assembled. y

Furthermore, my invent-ion is directed toward securing for the device a-simple interior construction, to lessen the danger of' circuit crosses and short circuits, and to enable the electrical connections to be made readily and conveniently.

My invention finds particular embodiment in cluster devices wherein a plurality of lamp-holding structures are carried by and extend radially from the casing, and the. objects thereof. are to provide simple means whereby these lamp-holding structures may be attached to the casing, and to provide an arrangement wherein the number of parts is reduced to a minimum.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of one form thereof, the back plate being removed to reveal the interior construction; Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the device shown in Fig. l, partly in transverse section taken on the line 9,-2 of Fig. 1 and lookingV in the dlrcction indicated by the arrows; Fig. 3 is a view looking into one of the individual lamp -receiving sockets employed in this form of my invention; Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 except that the threaded shell has been removed; Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional View of part of one of the individual lamp-receiving sockets, illustrating a slightly modified arrangement; Fig. 6 is a plan view of another form of my invention, the back plate being removed to reveal the interior construction; Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the form shown in Fig.

6, partly in transverse section taken en the line 7--7 of Fig. 6 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; Flg. 8 isa view looking into one of thelalnp-receiving sockets employed in this form of my invention; Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 except that the center Contact and art of the threaded shell have been remove( and Fig. l() is a view illustrating a modified arrangement for securing the sleeves upon the casing, particularly applicable to the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive.

The same reference characters are applied p to like or similar parts throughout the various figures.

Referring, first, to the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4L inclusive, the structure consists primarily of a metallic back plate 11, which is attached to a primary support in any suitable manner, and a bowlshaped metallic casing 12 secured to the back plate 11 by means of screws 13, 13. The casing 12 is provided with a plurality of circularly arranged openings at which the radially extending lamp-receiving sleeves 15, 15 are secured. A plurality of insulating blocks 16, 16 are provided, one for each of the lamp-receiving sleeves, and are disposed against the inside of the casing proximate to the openings at which the respective sleeves are secured. .Each sleeve with its respective insulating block and the directly associated parts, as will be hereinafter described, constitutes an individual lamp-receiving socket. The arrangement relative to the casing and the construction of each of said lamp-receiving sockets is as follows: The insulating block has a central part 17 extending into and fitting snugly within the opening at which it is placed, this arrangement preventing any lateral displacement of the block. The sleeve 15 has its end turned inwardly to form the fiange 18, and this flange is arthreaded base of an ordinary incandescent of and to make electrical contact with the y through this flan e and through registering openings in the lnsulating block and have threaded engagement with nuts 23,23 disposed on the opposite side of the block and preferably vslightly sunk therein to prevent rotation thereof when the screws are manipulated. It is now apparent that, when the screws 22 are screwed 1n place,.the casing 12, the inwardly extending flange 18 of the.

associated sleeve 15I and the insulating ring 19 are all securely clamped between the in- Wardly extending flange 21 of the contact shell 20 and the body of the respective insulating block 16, thus holding the entire individual lamp-receiving socket together and rigidly upon the casing. An .auxiliary screw 24 is passed through the flange 21 of the shell 20 and through a coincident opening in the insulating block, and has threaded engagement with a plate 25 disposed on the opposite side of the block in a transverse groove 26. This groove has one of its sides inclined relatively to the axis of the block so that, when the block is in proper position upon the casing, a lug 27 extending from the plate 25 and resting on said inclined side may present a binding screw 29 carried thereby to convenient access, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The insulating block 16 is provided with the central boss 30, extending beyond the portion 17 thereof, and upon this boss is disposed a contact member 31 arranged for the engagement of the center contact of an incandescent lamp inserted in the contact shell 20. This contact member-31 is held in place by means of a screw 32 passing through an extended and off-set portion thereof sunk in a pit 33 in the insulating block, the flange 21 of the shell 20 being cut away to accommodate the same, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4; the screw 32 passes through a registering opening in the insulating block 16 and has threaded engagement with a plate 34 disposed in a transverse oove 35 in the opposite side of the block.

imilarly to the groove 26 in the block, rela tive to which it extends parallel, and for the same purpose, the groove 35 has one of its sides inclined relative to the axis of the block. Thus, the lug 36 extending from the plate 34 and lying upon the inclined side of the groove, presents its binding screw 37, as shown in the drawings, when it is desired to make the electrlcal connections. The leading-in or supply conductors may be led into the device through a conduit carrying and having a common axis with the lamp-holding structure as is usual in the art, or they may be led through to ready approach y,

12 and an off-set rim 42 is provided extendll' one or more openings 1lx11 in the back plate, whichever method is most convenient according to the particular way in which the structure is mounted. The leading-in conductors may then be connected with the binding terminals of the individual lamp-receiving sockets, either collectively or individually or in a modified manner. In collective Wiring thel conductors are conveniently placed in the i transverse grooves 26 and 35 of the successive insulating blocks and connected to the respective bindin screws 29 and 37 which form the termina s for the outer and center contacts, respectively, of the individual lamp-receiving sockets. An insulating lining 38 is interposed between the sleeve 1.5 and the threaded shell 20 for obvious vpurposes, this lining being rolled out at 38a into an annular groove 39 in the sleeve to retain the same in place.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a slightly modified arrangement. In the structure shown in this figure the insulating'lining 38 has its end inturned lto form the flange 40 which, when the clamping screws are screwed into place, is held firmly between the inwardly extending flange 18 of the sleeve 15 and the insulating ring 19. This arrangement supports the lining Within the sleeve and the annular bead 38 may be mi eliminated.

As a further modification which I have illustrated in Fig. 5, the inner diameter of the insulating ring 19 is less than the diameter of the respective opening in the cas-v 10U ing so that the ring extends onto a shoulder 41 upon the extended portion 17 of the insulating block 16. Thus, when the ring is clamped between the inwardly extending flange 21 of the contact shell and the insulating block by the clamping screws 22, the inwardly extending flanges of the lining and the sleeve, respectively, and the casing are all securely held between. the insulating ring and the block.

In Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, I have illustrated another form of my invention, where in the clamping arrangement for holding the parts of an individual lamp-receiving socket together and for attaching the same I to the casing, is simpliiied. In this embodiment of my invention, as in that hereto fore described, the bowl-shaped casing 12 is carried by the back plate 11 and is provided with a plurality of circularly arranged openings at which the radially extending sleeves 15, 15 are secured. Each of the sleeves 15 is inturned at 18 to form a shoulder which encounters the outer surface of the easing ing from this shoulder and adapted to be disposed within the respective opening to prevent any lateral displacement of the sleeve when the same is secured to the casing by the clamping arrangementto be delar scribed. Each of the sleeves 15 with `its associated parts, as will be pointed out, forms an indiv1dual lam -receiving device and is constructed and c amped to the casing as follows: The insulating lining 38, which fits snugly Within the sleeve 15, has its end inturned to form the flange 40, as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 5, and this flan e is disposed against the inwardly exten ing portion 18 of the sleeve.. The threaded contact shell 20 is dis osed within the sleeve and has its inward y extending flan e 21 resting against the inwardly exten ing flange 40 ofthe insulating lining 38. In this form of my invention the insulating blocks 16 are dispensed with, and a lurality of insulatin disks 43, 43 are provided, one of these disks eing disposed against the inner surface of the casing over each of the o enings therein; these disks form the inner c amping members to which the associated parts, on the outside of the casing, are secured. Disposed upon the inwardly extending flange 21 of the threaded contact shell 20 is an insulating disk 44, and upon this disk, centrally disposed relative to the shell, is a plate 45 which, with the head of the screw 46 passing therethrough and through the disk 44, forms the center contact for engagement by the center terminal of an incandescent lamp inserted in the contact shell 20. The screw 46 passes through the disk 43 and has threaded engagement with a plate 47 on the opposite side of the disk 43, a washer 48 being interposed between the plate 47 and the disk 43. When the screw 46 is screwed tightly in lace, the insulating disk 44 will be clampedp against the inwardly extending flange 21 of the contact shell 20, which in turn will be clamped a ainst the inwardly extending flange 40 of t e insulating lining 38; and between the flange 40 and the in` sulating disk 43, the inwardly extending part 18 of the shell 15 and the casing are rigidly secured. To prevent rotation or other displacement of the disk 43, a notch 43 is cut therein and into this notch an inwardly extending protuberance 12 punched from the casing 12, is adapted to extend.

The plate 47 forms the terminal for the center contact of the lamp-receiving device and is provided with a lug 49 extending outwardly so that the binding screw 50 carried thereby will be disposed to easy access. The contact shell 20 is provided with a tongue 51 extending inwardly through an opening 52 in the disk 43 and carrying a binding screw 53 on its inner end. Each of the 'individual lamp-receiving devices being provided with independent terminals, the leading-in conductors, which are led to the device either through a conduit, as hereinbefore described with reference to the other form of my invention, or through the openings 11a in the back plate 11, may be connected thereto in any way desired, and the' individual lamp-receiving devices ma',7 be wired individually, collectively, or in a modlfied manner, to secure any particular circuit arrangement. To facilitate collect- 1ve wiring, connectin rings 54 and may be provided to electrlcally unite the center contact terminals and the outer contact terminals, respectively, of all the individual lamp-receivin devices in the cluster. 'lhc ring 54, as il ustrated, is of such diameter that it may be secured to all the outwardly extending lugs 49 by the screws 50 and the ring 55 1s of such diameter that it may be secured to all the tongues 51 by means of the screws 53. Any one of these screws on the respective rings may then be used as a ycommon binding terminal, or auxiliary7 binding screws 56 and 57 may be provided for the center and outer contact connecting rings, respectively.

In Fig. lOIhave illustrated a slight modification particularly applicable to the form of my invention just described. This modification consists in making the rim 43, extending from the inwardly extending portion 18 on the sleeve 15, slightly longer than the analogous member shown in Fig. 7, and in bending it back upon itself on the inside of the casing, as shown at 58. This arrangement assists in securing the firm mechanical attachment of the sleeves upon the casing, and is particularly useful as an aid when the structure is being assembled.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a cluster lamp socket, the combination with a casing having an o ening therein,of a sleeve extending outwardly from said opening and having an inwardly extending flange, a lamp-holding shell disposed in said sleeve against said inwardly extending flange, a clamping member disposed on the inside of said casing over said opening, and means passing through said openlng for connecting said shell with said clamping member to clamp said flange and said casing between said shell and said clamping member.

2. In a cluster lamp socket, the combination with a casing having an opening therein, of a sleeve extending outwardly from said opening and having an inwardly extending flange encountering the outside of said casing, a clamping arrangement in said sleeve, a clamping member disposed inside said casing over said opening, and means passing through said opening for connecting said clamping member with said clamping arrangement to secure said sleeve upon said casing.

3. In combination, a sleeve having an inwardly extending portion, an electrically contacting lamp-holding shell disposed within said sleeve and having an inwardly extending portion, and an insulating lining interposed between said shell and said sleeve and having an 4inwardly extending portion clamped between the inwardly extending portions of said sleeve and shell respectively,

4. In a cluster lamp socket, the combination with a casing having an opening therein, of a metallic sleeve extending outwardly from said opening and having an inwardly flan ed end, an electrically contacting lampholdgmg shell within said sleeve, an lnsulating lining inter osed between said shell and said sleeve an having a portion thereof formed upon said inwardly flanged end, a clamping member disposed inside said casing over said o ening, and means for connecting said she l with said clamping member to clamp said portion of said insulating lining between said shell and said inwardly flanged end and to hold saidv Shell within said sleeve and said sleeve upon-said casing.

5. In a. cluster lamp socket, the combination with a casing having an opening therein, of a metallic sleeve extending outwardly from said opening, and having an inturned end resting against said casing, a lampholding shell in said sleeve, a clamping member in said shell, a clamping member disposed inside said casing and over said opening, and means passing through said opening for connecting said clamping members to secure said shell within said sleeve and said sleeve upon the casing.

6. In a cluster lamp socket, the combination with a casing having an opening therein, of a sleeve extending outwardly from said opening and having an engaging surface, a lamp-holding shell disposed in said sleeve against said engaging surface and having an engaging surface, a clamping member disposed in said shell against its said engaging surface, a clamping member disposed inside said casing over said opening, said sleeve having a shoulder at its rearward end, and means passing through said opening for connecting said clamping members together to secure said shell within said sleeve and said vsleeve upon said casing with its shoulder against said casing.

7 In a cluster lamp socket, the combination with a casing having an opening therein, of a sleeve extending outwardly from said opening and having an inwardly extending flange engaging said casing, a lampholding shell disposed in said sleeve over said flange and having an inwardly extending flange, a. clamping member disposed in said shell against its said flange, a clamping member disposed inside said casing over said opening, and means passing through said opening for connecting said clam `ing members together to secure said. shell wlthin said sleeve and said sleeve upon said casing.

8. In a cluster lamp socket, the combination with a casing having an' opening therein, of a sleeve extending outwardly from said o ening and having a-reduced portion exten ing into said opening, thereby formin a shoulder encountering the outside of said casing, a clamping arrangement disposed withm said sleeve against said shouler, a lclamping member disposed on the inside of said casing over said opening, and means passing through said opening for connecting said clamping arrangement with said clamping member to hold said sleeve upon said casing.

9. In a cluster lamp socket, the combination with a casing having an opening there- 1n, of a sleeve extending outwardly from.

said opening and having a reduced portion extending into said opening, thereby forming a shoulder encountering the outside of said casing, said reduced portion being turned back on the inside of said casing, a clamping arrangement disposed within said sleeve against said shoulder, a clamping member disposed on thev inside of said casing over said opening, and means passing through said opening for securing said clamping arrangement to said clamping member.

l0. In a cluster lamp socket, the combinai tion with a casing having an opening therein, of a clamping member disposed inside said casing over said opening, an electrically contacting lamp-holding shell disposed on the outside of said casing, an insulating clamping member engaging in said shell, means for connecting said clamping members together to hold said shell upon said casing, said means bein@r electrically conductive and provided with a bindin terminal accessible from the inside o. said casing, and a tongue extending from said shell through said clamping member on the inside of said casing and provided with a binding terminal accessible from the inside ot' said casing.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN. 

